Long-lasting tolerance to stimulatory effects of perinatal caffeine treatment

• Published in: Psychopharmacologia Vol. 84; no. 2; pp. 285 - 286
• Main Authors: LOMBARDELLI, G, BALDUINI, W, FEDUZI, A, PERUZZI, G, CATTABENI, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-01-1984
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Caffeine - pharmacology; Drug Tolerance; Female; Medical sciences; Motor Activity - drug effects; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Pregnancy; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Spontaneous physical activity; Lactation; Rat; CNS stimulant; Newborn animal; Rodentia; Maternal treatment; Caffeine
• ISSN: 0033-3158; 1432-2072
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00427461

Pregnant rats were treated with caffeine in their drinking water at doses of 136.3 mg/kg/day during gestation and 222.2 mg/kg/day during lactation. The resulting offspring at 60 days of age (40 days after drug withdrawal) were tested in an activity monitor cage. Spontaneous locomotor activity and that induced by caffeine (10, 30, 60 mg/kg/day) were observed. Treated rats showed apparent tolerance to caffeine-induced motility. Therefore perinatal caffeine treatment seems to induce long-lasting tolerance. This finding contrasts with those previously reported for chronic caffeine treatment in adult rats, where tolerance disappears after only 2-3 weeks following drug withdrawal.